Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Marine Science => Topic started by: katieHaylor on 03/05/2018 16:11:32

Title: Could there be microplastics in the fish we eat?
Post by: katieHaylor on 03/05/2018 16:11:32

Steve asks:

If microplastics are affecting fish in the oceans, is this now in the food chain that we are consuming?

Can you help?

Title: Re: Could there be microplastics in the fish we eat?
Post by: chris on 07/05/2018 22:52:18

Any takers?

Title: Re: Could there be microplastics in the fish we eat?
Post by: chiralSPO on 07/05/2018 23:05:13

Yes:
https://gizmodo.com/first-evidence-that-microplastics-travel-up-the-food-ch-1823262468
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117343294

Title: Re: Could there be microplastics in the fish we eat?
Post by: evan_au on 08/05/2018 11:30:52

Most of the recognisable microplastics are in the gut of the fish; largish pieces of plastic could get stuck in the gut and kill the fish.

A seal that eats the fish will end up with the same plastic in its gut - but since the seal is much bigger than the fish, plastic which got stuck in the fish should pass straight through the seal.

Humans often "clean" a fish, and discard the guts, so we don't eat the plastic; but tiny fish, oysters and prawns are often eaten whole, microplastic and all.

More subtly, chemicals in the plastics could be absorbed by the fish, and humans could absorb those chemicals while eating the fish, cleaned or not.

Title: Re: Could there be microplastics in the fish we eat?
Post by: Bored chemist on 09/05/2018 20:56:12

In the case of small fish (etc) eaten whole the plastic will end up in our guts... for a while.

Title: Could there be microplastics in the fish we eat
Post by: Emilelix on 23/10/2019 12:41:30

I like the lion but voted for the raccoon butterfly fish because it is so unusual and so appropriately named.  I dont think you can go wrong with any of those choices

Title: Re: Could there be microplastics in the fish we eat?
Post by: axscientist on 24/01/2021 21:58:53

Yes, it's possible. The fish eat the plastic and we eat the fish. So we could be consuming plastic.